One of the holders of the Erasmus + scholarship at the University of Porto, Portugal in 2016 was Elmira Kultanova, a doctoral student in the Public Health specialty.

  Following the results of the scholarship period from September 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017, a doctoral student at the Institute of Public Health (ISPUP) successfully completed the disciplines of the Health Systems Administration, Challenges in Epidemiologic Research, Health Research Methods, Health Statistic Methods, Review and Meta-Analysis, Measuring Health, Journal Club, Individual Project, Topical Seminars.These disciplines allowed the doctoral student not only to receive unique knowledge in the field of public health and medical statistics, but also to participate in the work of the Expert Scientific Commission of the Institute. During the training the doctoral student not only gained experience as a scientific researcher, but also improved her language skills. One of the requirements of the training at the University of Porto was an additional visit to the classes on the study of the Portuguese language, a doctoral student received a certificate of knowledge of the Portuguese language.

At the end of the year Elmira was awarded Erasmus + diploma from the European Union.

The doctoral student signed contracts for scientific advising of doctoral dissertations with the rector of the Institute of Public Health, professor of epidemiology Henrique Barros and the chief researcher, associate professor of biostatistics Milton Severo. Together with the scientific adviser Henrique Barros, the design of the research was developed in the framework of the dissertation work and further research work is planned between the two universities.  Training in the Erasmus + program is an excellent opportunity to gain new knowledge from leading foreign scientists, to adopt the experience of conducting scientific research, also to connect with the centuries-old culture of Europe. Portugal is a wonderful and hospitable country, the staff of the Institute of Public Health and the University of Porto are open for cooperation and spend a lot of work with foreign students.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the rector of KSMU, Professor R. S. Dosmagambetova, the scientific adviser, MD. A. A. Turmukhambetova and the International Cooperation Department, in particular to Asel Nurgaliyeva and Saule Kasimova for the provided support and assistance during the training in Portugal.

E. Kultanova.

3^rd year Doctoral student

"Public Health" specialty.